The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-02-17
GOV. TAYLOR's MESSAGE.
A Vigorous, Concise State Paper by a
Progressive Democrat.

Gov. Taylor's Message was sent
n last Thursday. It rehearses the
ecent incidents in the history of
he state that relate to industrial
development, showing not only that
Tennessee is in better condition
han she has been since the war,
)ut that she is on the verge of
great future. His first suggestion
S the most important one. 1t co
ncides exactly with wha. The CIT
zen has been urging so insistently
that we copy the governors sug
gestions in full:
THE REVENUE LAWS.
1t is matter of much complaint
throughout the state that the OPP
GRAFTON of our present revenue laws
it unsatisfactory, in that it does not
affect equally and alike all kinds
Of property and classes of citizens,
and that the assessing of property,
as now practiced under the laws, is
attended with grievous abuses,
and much injustice.
Taxpayers complain that real es-
tate is not equally and fairly as
sessed; that in multiplied instances
small properties are taxed on near
ly or quite their full value, while
large estates are often taxed on less
than half their Strue value. An
other source of just complaint is
that the bulk of personal property
in the state escapes taxation alto
gether, and that, con sequently, the
principal burden rests upon the
farmers and real estate owners.
This Is evident from the fact that
while the assessment on real estate
IS nearly $2O0,00O,000 that on per-
sonal property is only about $780,
100000. Now, this is wrong and
manifestly unjust to the taxpayers
and to The state.
1t is confidently believed that if a
fair and proportionate valuation
were put upon all the taxable prop
erty in the state-persona and real
the taX-list would be doubled.
This being true, the rate of taxa
ton could be reduced one half
and still yield our present revenue.
1t therefore follows that the true
secret of light taxes and ample rev.
enues is to tax all taxable property
on it's full value, letting none escape
except that exempted by law, and
rigidly enforce prompt collection,
levying no more than enough to
meet the necessities of government
economically administered.
l recommend that the revenue
laws be so amended as to insure, if
possible, an equal, fair and just
valuation of all taxable property in
the state, without the escape of any,
and prompt and faithful collection
and remittance of taxes levied
Could this be successfully accom-
plished our revenues might be large
ly increased if necessary, the rate
of taxation reduced and the bur-
dens as they now rest upon the peo
pie happily diminished. The diff.
culties surrounding this question
constitute an old problem-a prob
lem never yet satisfactorily solved
but this is no reason why you
should not solve it, or at least make
an effort to improve our system OF
taxation.
EDUCATIONAL.
Of all the interests of the state
that which re lates to the education
of her people is the most important
There is no interest which involves
so much, no question SO pertinent
to a peoples destiny, Or that effects
so powerfully the character of gov
eminent under which they exist
Of all the enemies to republican
form of government, popular igno-
rance is the most dangerous; of ali
its most reliable safeguards, popu-
Lar intelligence is the best.
In this advanced age. of intellec-
tual supremacy, when mind is the
test of manhood, we can no longer
afford to remain passive or inditier
ent in regard to this question. II
involves problems which will force
solution in the near future. Ii
imposes upon US duty more i'm
perative than all others-that of de-
vising more adequate ways and
means for the education of the
children of Tennessee.
By a thorough reform alton Of
our revenue system we may so i'm
prove our finances as to be able tC
better provide for the support Of
our public schools; but complete
and sufficient provision can hardly
be made until our taxable wealth
shall have been greatly increased
by more extensive development
of our resources. But until this
shall take place where shall we look
for complement to the provision
we are able to make? For the chill
dren of the present who canno,
wait, how shall we supply the great
deficit in our school fund? The
masses of our people are anxiously
turning their eyes to the genera
government for aid.
NV sense of duty TO the children
of the state compels me to say thai
if there is a surplus of money in the
national treasury not applicable to
the payment of the national debt
the appropriation of the same FOL
this purpose, stripped of the condi
tons of federal supervision, would
be an irestimable blessing to thea
He urges the fostering of normal
schools.
He .pralses the. work and eff
cheney of the agricultural bureau
and recommends that it be sustain
ed and perpetuated.
He recognizes the force of the
popular clamor for the resembling
of the penitentiary lease and recon-
mends that this Legislature take mi
tialory preparatory steps for tina
event ia 1890. He discusses it like
a man and openly says he doesn'
know any other plan of working con
victs that will not compete will
paid labor. He does not say SO
but be makes it plain that to re